lxu532 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

LOVE IT!!!!

drlomo Loc: Sweden/ West Virginia

I am born and raised in Sweden one of the Scandinavian countries in the north-west part of the EU. From 2004 I work and live in Morgantown, WV, 50% of my time. As a Scandinavian guy I am amazed that US people need all those weapons at all! Shooting situations in connection with burglary in Western Europe is virtually non-existing! We have strict weapon laws and shootings in general is extremely rare except within the criminal gangs. Hunting accidents occur. There are a lot of hunting weapons around here, but nobody misuse them. I have no weapon in Morgantown either, and I feel no need for it.
Talking about burglary, the American door locks are a joke. You cannot easily force a Scandinavian lock without advanced professional tools. On the other hand we pay around USD300 for a front door lock system. Then you get quality. Do not try to kick in the door or force it with a heavy "iron log". It is too strong for that and the doors in Scandinavia are NOT opened into the house, therefore the heavy door frame disperse the forces. To enter a window is also very hard, because many of them cannot be opened, and those that can be opened are locked. In my Scandinavian home we have the possibility to activate the alarm partially. If anyone succeeds to enter, the alarm will sound and we wake up. Probably the burglar has hit the road then
If there are so many bad guys out there why do you not install doors and locks with far higher quality?

If just the sound of pump gun scares bad guys off, it is a really good weapon! I would not mind to own a beefy gun. Preferably a rifle. A small handgun is more dangerous in my opinion. It is far bigger risk to shoot someone by mistake.
Unfortunately there are people that should NEVER own a gun. See this case:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Yoshihiro_Hattori

One of the most disturbing things is some state's legislation that allows you more or less to shoot a trespasser even if he is unarmed. Perhaps it is NOT a trespasser, just someone who is lost. To West Europeans this is outrageously primitive and totally uncivilized!!

drlomo Loc: Sweden/ West Virginia

Finally someone who thinks "a few inches" further! It is actually possible to shoot someone who has not deserved to be shot! You cannot just shoot right out in the dark! The flashlight thing is a good idea. Nowadays you can buy super bright LED flashlights. "A hi-watt-seconds" big camera flash can also temporary blind someone. I think all members of this forum has a big flash...:=)

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

Tell me drlomo, if and I say IF someone does get into your house even if he wakes you up during the process, what are you going to do? Obviously the person is hell bent on either harming you, or a member of your family or with the intend to steal your personal items that you have worked your life for thus far. What are you going to do to protect you, your family and your possessions?

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

This is why I was reluctant to start a thread about my experience, I knew it was a matter of time till someone who thinks guns should be banned came along and turned my thread into a gun rights battle.

Those who want to ban guns should work to change our constitution instead of all the back door attempts to take our rights away.

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

Bart, you hit the nail directly on the head!
Not demeaning the other gentleman, but stories like that one scares me and how it spreads so quickly!
We have problems enough with these stupid A** congressional people the way it is now!

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

right, you never know,instead of a burgular it might be a bear or t-rex. I like to have something handy that will make a big hole. my reflexes ain't what they use to be so the shot cover all my bases.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Sweden, like much of Europe, has anti-gun laws and an ignorance of firearms and their role in self-defense AND AS A GENERAL DETERRENT to violent crime. Sweden itself is one of the rape capitals of the world, as a consequence of the huge influx of Muslims and the frequency of Muslim on non-Muslim rape. There are areas of Sweden, particularly in and around the major port city of Gothenburg, where the police have given in to Islamic gangs and are afraid to go. I suggest that Swedes clean up their own act and their own attitudes before passing ignorant judgment on the 2nd Amendment and the role of firearms in this country.

willstaff Loc: Daytona Beach, Fl

During the war I carried an Army issued riot shotgun slung on the back of my seat. At first I carried a Thompson .45 caliber submachine gun until I got shot down and found out how heavy it was to lug around with twin magazines and a pouch with four extra mags. That shotgun sure made me feel a heck of a lot better prepared plus the pattern of 00 buckshot made me more dangerous than the Thompson. Yea I had a pistol too but I'd have to get close enough to beat the enemy to death with it as I was a terrible shot with a pistol.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I'm trying to teach my S&W to make that sound. :P

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

Critters even know the sound of a shotgun getting racked. It's universal language.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Good to see an informed discussion of home defense which generally avoided the 2nd Amendment flap.

I've been considering a "riot gun," 12 gauge, 18" barrel, 5 shell magazine pump shotgun for the reasons mentioned above. I certainly don't want to go through my wall or door and into my neighbors' houses, as seems all to possible with an assault rifle. Having used a pump gun for dove hunting - far lighter load than for home defense - they are easy to use and seem unlikely to jam. I recall Mossberg and Remington mentioned, can you folks suggest any other moderately priced makers?

And about loads. Someone mentioned 3 - 00 buck, followed by 2 rifled slugs. Wouldn't the slugs be likely to take out a neighbor's house?

Thanks for suggestions.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

You want a 12 gauge, 18" barrel (it may actually be 18.5"...someone correct me if I'm wrong.) You should also look for a full length magazine which would hold 7 or 8 shells. You don't want a longer barrel: too unwieldy in close quarters.

The Remington 870 is one of the very best all-around defensive shotguns. Not the cheapest, though, but reasonable. Also because it's so popular there are many accessories which fit it, such as small powerful lights. The 870 remains a very popular shotgun among police.

For defensive use inside a home, many experts recommend 00 buck. Birdshot might not penetrate clothing. Slugs probably have too much penetration.

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

We were told in the Police Academy that a slug in our riot guns would go through the engine block of a car....I know that the darned things cause a bruise on my shoulder when I fired a 12 gauge with one in it. I've been shot with number 4 buckshot and I can tell you it hurts.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Your Academy instructors were in error.

Experts and people who have tried it, all agree that even a sabot slug won't penetrate an engine block, much less go through it. Even an aluminum block. Remember also that most slugs are lead, much softer than an engine block. Discussion here and many other places:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread373680/pg1